ALOR SETAR: The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) is tightening water management and irrigation measures to minimise disruption to padi cultivation in the Muda area amid concerns over prolonged hot and dry weather.
Mada chairman Wan Khairizal Wan Khazim said the authority was regulating dam releases according to actual needs, maximising uncontrolled water flows, operating water-reuse pumps and monitoring supplies through the Mada Telemetry System.
“Every effort is being taken to ensure sufficient water for irrigation and minimise the impact of the dry spell on padi cultivation,” he said.
As of Oct 13, water storage at Mada’s three dams stood at 490,789 acre-feet, or 40.13% of their combined capacity.
Pedu Dam held 357,195 acre-feet, or 40.82% of capacity; Muda Dam, 32,400 acre-feet (25.92%); and Ahning Dam, 101,194 acre-feet (45.38%).
The Muda area contributes nearly 40% of the country’s padi production.
Mada carried out controlled releases from January to May to support the replanting of padi for the 2025 second season after floods affected parts of the padi-growing area.
However, hot and dry weather during the period caused rainfall in the Pedu Dam catchment area to fall by almost 30% below average, reducing inflows and lowering reservoir levels.
To conserve dam reserves, Mada has advised farmers to use rainwater retained in their fields for irrigation during the 2026 first season, without dam releases for padi irrigation.
Water releases are being made sparingly for domestic and industrial use, as well as to maintain water levels in canals for bank stabilisation.
Mada is operating 117 water-reuse pumps to recycle water from drainage systems and rivers for crop use, while managing water-control structures and irrigation systems to improve distribution to padi fields.
Wan Khairizal said Mada had conducted five cloud-seeding operations since February with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the Malaysian Meteorological Department and the Kedah Water Resources Board.
Nadma had approved Mada’s application for cloud seeding over the Muda and Pedu dam catchment areas from Oct 12 to 15 to encourage rainfall and improve water inflows.
Wan Khairizal said Mada understood farmers’ concerns over water availability for the coming planting season and would continue to optimise existing resources with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry and other relevant agencies.
Farmer Muhammad Rafirdaus Abu Bakar, 50, said farmers needed timely information on water availability and planting schedules.
“We need clear information on water availability and planting schedules so that we can plan our activities accordingly and minimise possible losses,” he said.
Another farmer, Shuib Ismail, 66, said close coordination between Mada and farmers would be vital in managing irrigation supplies should dry conditions persist.
